An efficient synthesis of polyynyl and polyynediyl complexes of ruthenium(II)†

Abstract

The fluoride-induced desilylation of trimethylsilyl-substituted alkynes and polyynes and subsequent reactions with RuCl(PPh₃)₂Cp have been used to synthesize complexes containing unsaturated chains containing up to six carbons. Reactions with Co₂(CO)₈ or tetracyanoethene have been further used to characterise the products. Structural confirmation of RuX(PPh₃)₂Cp [X = CCC₆H₄CCSiMe₃ 2, CCCCPh 4, CCC₂Ph{Co₂(CO)₆} 8, CCC₂H{Co₂(µ-dppm)(CO)₄} 9, CCC{C(CN)₂}CPhC(CN)₂ 10 or CCC{C(CN)₂}C{C(CN)₂}CCPh 11] and {Ru(PPh₃)₂Cp}₂(µ-C_n) [n = 4 (6) or 6 (7)] is reported.